The Red Sox can place Dempster on the restricted list, keeping him under contract without paying him while freeing up cap space money for any possible free agents (like, say, shortstop Stephen Drew). The right-hander was on the fringe of Boston's starting staff, with Jon Lester, John Lackey, Clay Buchholz, and Jake Peavy tentatively holding spots, and Felix Doubront and Brandon Workman vying for the end of the rotation.

Dempster, who's pitched for 16 years, doesn't know if this is his official retirement, and plans to consider his options after the season. Currently, though, he doesn't think he can do an acceptable job this season.